Paula Deen and husband Michael Groover reportedly not splitting up

UPI News Service, 11/08/2013

Paula Deen's nine-year marriage to Michael Groover is not on the rocks, UsMagazine.com said Thursday.

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The report follows the publication of a National Enquirer story, which claimed the Georgia chef and cookbook author, 66, threw her 57-year-old husband out of the house after discovering he had a mistress.

"This story is absolutely not true. They have never been closer. Michael adores her and Paula adores him. They are completely fine," a source close to the family told UsMagazine.com.

Deen saw her lifestyle empire crumble this year after she admitted in a deposition for a lawsuit she used the N-word, but later clarified it had been years ago and in reference to an African-American man who robbed her at gunpoint.

The confession sparked a media firestorm and, although Deen apologized for her behavior and insisted she is not a racist, she was fired by the Food Network and lost numerous product endorsement deals.